EAST SEA (DONGHAE)
If you have the skills to manage the challenging dive conditions, the East Sea is an underwater photographer’s paradise
ONE OF THE more undiscovered dive regions of South Korea, the
East Sea has slowly started attracting the attention of local divers after the pandemic put international travel on hold. As a result, local divers are heading out to find more dive spots within the country to explore and the East Sea is one that has begun standing out – the region is now even being used as an area for a wider variety of diving programmes.
However, as fascinating and exciting as this place is, it is not suitable for just any diver. In fact, Korea’s seas are notorious for being difficult to dive due to the rapidly changing water temperatures, deep depths, low visibility, and strong currents. Divers who are looking to explore this region must be well versed in dive safety and must have excellent deep diving skills – and this is especially true for those travelling to the region for underwater photography.
The East Sea is a relatively new location for diving, and there is still much to explore and discover. As a student under Korean underwater artist Y.Zin Kim, I am trying to shed a little bit more light on the region. In this article, I share some of my work capturing the stunning underwater sights of the East Sea.
MARINE LIFE
End of autumn to winter: Noraemi, rockfish, yangmiri, sea bream, tochis, Ttukji, giant octopuses
Summer: Various species of jellyfish including moon jellyfish, curtain circle jelly, eel, shrimps, vedorachi and snailfish
DIVE EXPERIENCE All levels, from beginner and upwards. A dry suit is essential because of the frigid water temperatures, as well as for buoyancy control
BEST TIME TO DIVE September to November
WATER TEMPERATURE January to February: 9° March to April: 5° May to June: 11°, July to August: 12° September to October: 14° November to December: 13°
VISIBILITY Visibility varies but it can sometimes be challenging, so photographers will need to get close to subjects and use strobes to light up the reef
DEPTH 20 to 30 metres “Divers who are looking to explore this region must be well versed in dive safety and must have excellent deep diving skills – and this is especially true for those travelling to the region for underwater photography”
강릉 Gangneung (Upper East Sea)
In the upper portion of the
East Sea, divers can spot small fibrous senile anemones occupying the indented areas of rock that have been cut by the movement of the sea. Diving in this region of the
East Sea, the water temperatures are usually dependent on the season – which also affects the type of marine life that you encounter. In May, for example, the water temperatures in this area are usually lower than 10°C, and you can find the anemones sticking out through the rock crevices. By contrast, in July, for example, the temperatures gradually rise to about to 12°C and instead of finding the sea anemones, divers will be treated to encounters with jellyfish and other pelagic fishes.
고성 Goseong (Central East Sea)
This region is by far the most popular and most frequently dived area in the East Sea. Here, divers will come across a variety of shipwrecks, vessels that were sunk after they were no longer able to operate. Another unique and interesting dive is a sunken chimney, which has proven popular with divers as well as serving as a productive artificial reef. The chimney is home to fibrous senile anemones that have attached themselves to the structure, creating their own residential complex.
울진 Uljin (Lower East Sea)
In this region of the East Sea, one of the main attractions is the coral scattered across the ocean floor. However, over the years, as global warming has caused water temperatures to rise, these corals are gradually disappearing, and now, finding them in the waters of the East Sea is becoming increasingly difficult.